Conversion heel

ABSTRACT

A CONVERSION HEEL DEVICE WHICH PERMITS HEELED SHOES TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO FLAT WEDGE HEEL SHOES INCLUDING A CHAMBER TO ACCOMMODATE THE HIGH HEEL OF THE SHOE BEING CONVERTED AND A MEANS TO FASTEN THE HEEL IN PLACE.

Sept. 28, 1971 A. JENSEN I CONVERSION HEEL Filed Jan. 50, 1970 INVENTOIR IVAN A. JENSEN ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 3634R Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A conversion heel device which permits heeled shoes to be transformed into flat wedge heel shoes including a chamber to accommodate the high heel of the shoe being converted and a means to fasten the heel in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At present, when there is a great deal of attention being paid to womens fashion, it requires a large wardrobe to be in style. This is equally applicable to footwear. Different type shoes are required for different occasions. Formal and evening wear requires high heel shoes. Sport and casual wear requires flat heel shoes of one type or another. Heretofore, different shoes were needed for the different occasions described above, since high heels are not suitable for casual wear and flat heels not suitable for more formal occasions. Naturally, it is expensive to maintain a large number of shoes. Storage also becomes a problem in some cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a conversion heel device which permits shoes to be changed readily from the formal high heel type to a flat wedge type heel and back again as the situation demands. The conversion heel of the present invention is wedge shaped or other shape than a high heel and has a chamber adapted to fit over the high heel of a high heel shoe. A suitable fastening means retains the conversion heel in place.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a conversion heel adapted to readily convert a high heel shoe to a fiat wedge shaped heel shoe or other shape than a high heel, and which can be converted back to a high heel shoe with a minimum of effort.

Other objects and further applicability of the present invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, a conventional high heel shoe 10 is adapted to be fitted with the conversion heel 12 of the present invention. The heel 12 is generally hoe I Wedge shaped and conforms to the arch 11 of the shoe 10. The heel is provided with a recessed chamber 14 extending in a perpendicular manner from the top to the bottom of the heel 12 at its rearward portion. The chamber 14 is designed to complement the shape of the high heel 16 of the shoe 10 so as to provide a relatively tight fit at that point.

Various means are contemplated to secure the heel 12 to the shoe. Preferably, a permanent magnet 18 is embedded in the heel 12 at a point corresponding to the arch 11 of the shoe 10. A self-adhesive metal plate 20 is fastened permanently to the arch 11 of the shoe. The loose Wedge heel 12 is placed over the high heel 16 of the shoe 10 so it fits into the chamber 14. The magnet 18 is attracted to the metal plate 20 to keep the heel in place.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment wherein a sleeve 22 of rubber or other material lines the interior of the chamber 14 to provide a gripping surface so as to engage the high heel 16 and retain the wedge conversion heel 12 in place.

Another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, contemplates using a suction cup 24 which will grip the arch 11 of the shoe 10 to retain the heel 12.

It is seen with the conversion heel of the subject invention, it is possible to transform a regular high heel shoe into a wedge heel shoe, which lends more support to the foot and simulates the comfort of a flat or low heel shoe. The conversion heel is readily removable when the look of a high heel shoe is desired.

I claim:

1. A shoe assembly adapted to be worn as a heeled shoe Or a flat sole shoe, comprising a heeled shoe having a sole, heel and an arched portion forward of said heel defining an area between said heel and said sole and a conversion device for converting said heeled shoe into a flat sole shoe, said conversion device having a flat bottom surface, a tapered upper face conforming to said arched portion of said shoe, a chamber in said upper face for receiving said heel of said shoe and means for fastening said conversion element in place to form a flat continuation rearwardiy of the sole of said shoe.

2. The shoe assembly of claim 1 wherein said heeled shoes are high heel shoes.

3. The shoe assembly of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises a magnet embedded in the upper portion corresponding to the arch of a high heel shoe and a ferrous metal strip adapted to be secured to the arch of a shoe to be converted whereby said magnet is attracted to said strip to secure said wedge shaped heel in place.

4. The shoe assembly of claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes a sleeve of material lining the interior of said chamber and being adapted to grip and retain said high heel to secure said wedge shaped heel in place.

5. The shoe assembly of claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes a suction cup attached to the upper portion of the wedge shaped heel ad being adapted to engage the arch of said high heel shoe to secure said wedge shaped heel in place.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,174,234 3/1965 Weitzner 3634 2,906,039 9/1959 Ball et a1. 36-34 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

